“I owe you a proper apology and a reward for protecting Spyro from the invasion of the Lesser Demons. My guards wouldn’t have been able to see through their camouflage. You did a very good job, Sir. As expected from a Demon Hunter under the direct tutelage of a master!”

Pablo Zeram retrieved a small silver pin with the image of a blood–red knight helmet. It was the Guard Captain’s stigma. Only a few people in Spyro had been given the Guard Captain’s pin. It was an honor and very useful because it would grant Zayn access to various places that couldn’t be accessed quickly normally, including the inner city.

But there was more to the Guard Captin’s pin. It granted him a discount in several shops and other benefits. The pin was a clear sign that the Guard Captain liked him.

‘It's a good thing I didn’t back off earlier.’ Zayn smiled lightly as he recalled the moment the Guard Captain was about to tear him apart. The Guard Captain’s fierce gaze was imprinted in his mind. Fortunately, Zayn had seen worse glares before. The Guard Captain was fierce, but Pablo’s presence wasn’t comparable to the terrifying presence of Dragons and the Lesser Deity. There was still a ‘little’ difference.

The Guard Captain liked strong-willed men. In his opinion, willpower, and diligence always win against talent. No matter how talented one was, it would be a hellish challenge to win against someone who dedicated their entire life to becoming stronger.

His mindset had some truth, but it was not that simple. It would take tens of times longer to get on the same level as someone talented if one didn’t possess any talent. No matter how hard one tried, true talent couldn’t be defeated easily, especially not by untalented individuals.

It was necessary to possess a mix of unbending willpower, talent, dedication, and a tinge of luck to become truly powerful. That was a fact. Zayn was the best example. He wasn’t overly talented but did his best to grow stronger. Nonetheless, if Zayn hadn’t been fortunate enough to find certain people, treasures, and other opportunities at the right time, he would have never grown truly powerful. Zayn would have ended up dying before anyone else if not for his fortune and determination.

Zayn recalled past memories showing his suffering, great fortune, and the times his friends helped him get back on track. He was about to give up more times than he could count, yet every failure pushed him further. Zayn never gave up, even though he desired peace and silence countless times.

Sometimes, death sounded like a blessing rather than a punishment, but Zayn continued moving forward. The memories affected Zayn more than he’d expected.

‘I have come this far. I will take this to the end!’

Entering Spyro without getting found out as an Immortal and obtaining the Guard Captain’s pin was part of the secret reward granted for completing the unique mission with a high score. However, far more important was his relationship with the Guard Captain. The Guard Captain liked him a lot. That was very important for future missions and almost everything Zayn would do in Spyro.

Pablo Zeram was said to have more influence throughout the entire city than the City Lord. He was one of the strongest people in the whole city and treated everyone fairly. However, only a handful of people received his utmost respect. Even fewer could call Pablo Zeram their friend.

Zayn, with Pablo’s pin, was probably the closest to being a friend. The pin showed that the Guard Captain valued him a lot and that touching him meant that they also offended the Guard Captain. That was the type of treatment most merchants and nobles desired as well.

They would treat him well. After all, befriending the Guard Captain was their final goal to create a large-scale business in Spyro.

‘Now that the merchants should be easy to deal with, I should visit them soon,’ Zayn figured, starting to come up with changes to his plan as the situation changed.

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The Guard Captain’s respect for him would also change how the guards viewed him. His name would be spread among them. That was good. It was something Zayn wanted to achieve as well. After all, dealing with people who knew him was easier than creating a perfect image for strangers.

‘The Lesser Archai Demons are dead. Their Card Shards and Soul Essences will come in handy as well. The Guard Captain trusts me quite a bit, and I can confirm that he is also in Spyro. Pablo wouldn’t have reacted like that if he wasn’t here. Good. I can proceed with my plan!’

“Please follow me, Sir. I will bring you to the Guild Association. You can access the Communication Orb in the Guild Association to report to your master and the Demon Hunters,” The Guard Captain proposed, leading Zayn through Spyro’s narrow alleys and tunnels, “Maybe…you could ask for some aid as well…since we have that thing in Spyro. If what you said will come true, we want to be prepared for the worst, right, Sir?”

Zayn had to give his best not to look apologetic. He could call the Demon Hunter Association because he had their secret code, but he knew the Demon Hunters well enough to say that they would come to Spyro to hunt him down before taking note of the demon issue.

“I cannot promise anything. We are currently facing more problems with demons all over the continent, and as you may know, our numbers are not that great. I can stay in Spyro for a while, and I might even be able to train some people to have them deal with the Lesser Demons, but I don’t think that my master or anyone else will send more Demon Hunters to deal with Lesser Demons. Spyro has only minor problems…for now…”

The Guard Captain was unhappy about that but wasn’t devastated either. He heard about the increasing issues with bandits, demons, and other evil creatures. However, alongside the increasing reports of destruction and chaos came news about the arrival of Immortal warriors.

According to the oldest prophecies, Immortals would come in times of great peril. Maybe that time has finally come.

“It would be great if you can stay in Spyro. I am willing to vouch for you, even though I don’t think you will need to be a Demon Hunter. If you need help or resources, don’t hesitate to ask for my help. I might not be wealthy but I know enough about Spyro to give you a helping hand!”

“That is very kind. I will remember that!” Zayn responded with a smile, but his eyes were drawn to Spyro's vast tunnels and narrow paths.

The city was magnificent. It was almost like the entire city had been carved out of a single – massive – stone. Spyro’s appearance was awe-inspiring. The city rose out of the ground like a monolithic marvel. Its towering walls, adorned with intricate carvings, stretched skyward, blending seamlessly with the surrounding landscape. A network of winding stress and alleys snake through the city, bordered by buildings sculpted directly into the stone.

Spyro’s architecture was a testament to artistry and functionality, with dwellings, temples, and a marketplace perfectly integrated into the surroundings.

There was no blemish or flaw in the stone. It was almost like the temples and marketplaces had been created by nature itself.

Elaborate archways and vaulted ceilings created a grand presence to the surrounding structures, while intricate details adorned every surface, granting each building a little personality and individualism. Large spires towering as high as the massive city walls jut from the stone surrounding the inner city. Countless intricate runic patterns had been carved on their surface, merging with the surrounding infrastructure as they glowed dimly in a rhythmic order.

Throughout the city, shafts of light from countless illumination crystals filter through narrow crevices, casting dappled patterns on the stone streets below.

Despite its formidable appearance, the city revealed a sense of harmony. It was as if the Spyro was a natural extension of the sentient volcano. It stands as a testament to the ingenuity and craftsmanship of its creators, a monument to the enduring beauty of stone.

Zayn had been to many places, but Spyro was one of the greatest. It was a beautiful, well-maintained place.

His attention was pulled to the massive palace that crowned the top of the city with its flawless appearance. The City Lord was housed in the palace, but Zayn’s eyes didn’t linger long onto the unblemished palace. His eyes traveled down further beneath the palace.

The thing he was looking for resided underneath the palace. It was why Spyro was created, and the spires surrounding the inner city were needed.

It was Zayn’s second target to procure the information he needed to destroy the World Bridges.